[Illustration] The True George Washington by Paul Leicester Ford Author of “The Honorable Peter Stirling” Editor of “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson” and “The Sayings of Poor Richard” “That I have foibles, and perhaps many of them, I shall not deny. I should esteem myself, as the world would, vain and empty, were I to arrogate perfection.” —_Washington_ “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.” —_Shakespeare_ 1896 BY J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY _Tenth Edition_ Electrotyped and Printed by J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO WILLIAM F. HAVEMEYER, IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE AUTHOR TO HIS COLLECTION OF WASHINGTONIANA. Contents Note CHAPTER I.—FAMILY RELATIONS CHAPTER II.—PHYSIQUE CHAPTER III.—EDUCATION CHAPTER IV.—RELATIONS WITH THE FAIR SEX CHAPTER V.—FARMER AND PROPRIETOR CHAPTER VI.—MASTER AND EMPLOYER CHAPTER VII.—SOCIAL LIFE CHAPTER VIII.—TASTES AND AMUSEMENTS CHAPTER IX.—FRIENDS CHAPTER X.—ENEMIES CHAPTER XI.—SOLDIER CHAPTER XII.—CITIZEN AND OFFICE-HOLDER INDEX List of Illustrations with Notes MINIATURE OF WASHINGTON. By JAMES SHARPLESS Painted for Washington in 1795, and presented by him to Nelly (Calvert) Stuart, widow of John Parke Custis, Washington’s adopted son. Her son George Washington Parke Custis, in whose presence the sittings were made, often spoke of the likeness as “almost perfect.” MEMORIAL TABLET OF LAURENCE AND AMEE WASHINGTON, IN SULGRAVE CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE The injury of the effigy of Laurence Washington and the entire disappearance of the effigy of Amee antedate the early part of the present century, and probably were done in the Puritan period. Since the above tracing was made the brasses of the eleven children have been stolen, leaving nothing but the lettering and the shield of the Washington arms. BETTY WASHINGTON, WIFE OF FIELDING LEWIS Painted about 1750, and erroneously alleged to be by Copley. Original in the possession of Mr. R. Byrd Lewis, of Marmion, Virginia. JOHN AND MARTHA CUSTIS Original in the possession of General G.W. Custis Lee, of Lexington, Virginia. MINIATURE OF ELEANOR PARKE CUSTIS From the miniature by Gilbert Stuart, in the possession of her grandson, Edward Parke Lewis Custis, of Hoboken, New Jersey. FICTITIOUS PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON The lettering reads, “Done from an original Drawn from the Life, by Alex’r Campbell of Williamsburg in Virginia. Published as the act directs 9 Sept’r 1775 by C. Shepherd.” It is the first engraved portrait of Washington, and was issued to satisfy the English curiosity concerning the new commander-in-chief of the rebels. From the original print in the possession of Mr. W.F. Havemeyer, of New York. COPY SHEET FROM YOUNG MAN’S COMPANION The sheet from which Washington modelled his handwriting, and to which his earliest script shows a marked resemblance. From the original in the possession of the author.